Chapter 175. Lucy and Lumi
★ Heroine Status Window
[Nam Daeun]
- [ Affection: 75 ]
- [ Lust: 20 ]
- [ Appetite: 37 ]
- [ Fatigue: 50 ]
Current Status: I have to ask. Why did he save Dahee?
'Ah...'
That's a bit hard to say with everyone listening.
Lee Hoyeon met Scarlett's gaze.
"As I said yesterday, I brought everyone today..."
Putting all his will into his gaze to express that he wanted to talk with Nam Daeun alone, Scarlett caught on.
"Hmm... Miss Nam Dahee. Lady Liliana. Let's step outside for a bit."
"Why?"
"I need a drink. I need to have some plum juice."
"It'll only take a moment. I'll get you a drink."
Tap tap tap.
Scarlett led the two out for a bit.
'As expected of Scarlett.'
Lee Hoyeon gave a slight nod, then looked at Nam Daeun.
"So, how are you feeling?"
He carefully started the conversation.
"...You're not really one to be asking that from a hospital bed."
"Really?"
"..."
Nam Daeun bit her lip.
There was so much she wanted to ask.
Why did he save Dahee, how his condition was, and why he was helping her at all.
But she couldn't bring herself to say it.
Saying it out loud scared her.
She feared he might try to control her like the Buyer Guild did, or demand something in return for his help.
Of course, she knew he wasn't that kind of person.
Lee Hoyeon wasn't like that.
But even Uncle Minkyu wasn't like that before he suddenly changed.
Disappointed in herself for not being able to speak due to that fear, Nam Daeun clenched her teeth.
"Are you getting any calls from the Buyer Guild?"
Then Lee Hoyeon broke the silence.
"Yeah. But I'm not answering. Because you told me not to."
"Good. Those bastards are ruthless, so never answer them. My forces are investigating the Buyer Guild's corruption. We'll blow it all up soon."
"...Why are you helping me?"
Nam Daeun finally asked the question she'd held in.
She didn't have a particularly close relationship with Lee Hoyeon.
Yet he was going so far as to move his people and wholeheartedly help her, even rescuing Dahee.
And even after that, he wasn't asking for anything in return and was helping clean up the aftermath.
It was starting to scare her, wondering what he might ask for.
Like an elephant trained from birth, even as an adult it can't resist a trainer smaller than its leg.
Nam Daeun, who had been abused by the Buyer Guild, couldn't help but be suspicious.
"I... I have nothing. I can't give you anything in return. Of course, I'll repay you somehow, but..."
Lee Hoyeon looked at the stammering Nam Daeun.
Her shoulders and hands trembled slightly. Her hardened eyes and lips radiated anxiety and fear.
It was probably the awkwardness of experiencing freedom again after so long.
He felt pity for how much she must've suffered under the Buyer Guild to react like this.
"There wasn't really a reason."
"Huh?"
Nam Daeun's eyes widened at his words.
"While investigating the Shinyoung Guild, I learned about your connection to the Buyer Guild. Since the Buyer Guild was doing dirty work for Shinyoung, I just saved you while dealing with them. So don't worry about it."
"But... it's too much to just brush off. I owe you too much."
"Then like you said, repay me someday. You're free now. Just live your life with your sister, do what you want, and if you figure out a way to repay me, do it then."
Honestly, he didn't care about the repayment.
It's not like he needed money, and she didn't have any useful connections.
Just her gratitude was enough. That was satisfying enough.
"..."
Nam Daeun trembled, head lowered.
It didn't seem real yet.
A few moments later, she quietly began to cry, sniffing.
Seeing that, Lee Hoyeon waited patiently until she calmed down.
"Th-thank you. I'll find a way... no matter what, I'll repay you."
"Oh yeah, Dahee mentioned something to me. What was it again? Going to a cafe, eating out, watching a movie... when did we do all that?"
He passed on what Dahee had told him before the party.
Trying to lighten the mood, he let a small smile show.
Nam Daeun, with tears still in her eyes, turned bright red.
"...Sorry. I had nothing to tell my sister, so I made it up. Please don't tell Dahee."
"Ah... I see."
He had wondered, but it made sense. She probably couldn't think of anyone else and used him as her imaginary boyfriend.
"...Sorry. If that made you uncomfortable, I'll properly apologize—"
"Then should we start with the cafe?"
"Huh?"
"You said those things, right? Then if we do them, it won't be a lie anymore."
Nam Daeun was just a 20-year-old girl.
She probably had so many things she wanted to do with friends and just live a normal life.
That's probably why she made up that lie.
Wiping her tears away, Nam Daeun gave a bright smile unlike her usual blank expression.
"...Okay!"
That smile was even brighter than when she talked to her sister on the phone.
Once Nam Daeun's reddened eyes settled down, they called the girls waiting outside back into the room.
Nam Dahee and Liliana walked in, each with a piece of bread in their mouths.
It seemed Scarlett had pacified them with snacks.
"Nom nom."
"What were you talking about?"
Liliana, chewing her bread, asked him.
"Just... nothing big. You seem to have gotten pretty close with Dahee, huh?"
Watching them munch on bread together, they seemed to be getting along well.
Maybe their mental ages were similar?
"The big sisters treated me really well!"
"Mm, that's good."
Nam Dahee looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
Unlike her sister, she was very expressive.
"Oppa oppa, what were you talking about with my sister?"
"Huh? Oh, just... catching up. It's been a while."
"Dahee, don't ask things like that."
Nam Dahee, who had her hand on his bed, was pulled away by Nam Daeun.
"Unnie unnie. Are you dating Hoyeon oppa?"
"No...?"
"Why not? If you go to cafes and movies, that's dating."
"...."
Nam Daeun looked around, unable to find words.
She glanced at him for help, so he spoke up.
"Hey Dahee. Have you ever met the Saintess?"
"Huh? The Saintess? Nope!"
"I'll introduce you later. She's in this hospital."
"Wow... you're close with the Saintess too, oppa?"
I needed to get Dahee checked.
There was a chance her illness was fake, but just in case...
"...Thanks. That's a relief, Dahee. Hoyeon said he'll help."
"Yay, I wanna meet the Saintess! Unnie!"
She normally doesn't call me Hoyeon, but probably wanted to seem closer in front of her sister.
While the Nam sisters were bonding, I turned to Liliana, who was eating bread.
"Liliana. By the way, no reply yet?"
"Reply?"
"You sent a letter to your mom. Didn't she reply?"
"Ah... right. It's weird that it's taking so long. Last time it only took a day. Maybe the letter got lost?"
She'd sent a letter asking about the Demon King of Hell.
It's been a while with no reply. Strange.
Maybe something happened?
If Liliana's parents are in danger, I'd be upset too.
"Hoyeon."
"Yeah?"
Just as Liliana was frowning in thought, Scarlett whispered in my ear.
"Should I deliver yesterday's video to Lady Elise now?"
"Ah... yeah. Send it right away."
The video we filmed under Scarlett's direction yesterday.
I don't know if Elise will come visit, but it's better if she watches it beforehand.
"Daeun, think you can take Dahee to your dorm?"
"Huh?"
I used the more familiar tone because Dahee was around.
"It's a bit much to keep her in my dorm, right?"
While I'm hospitalized, it's just girls staying there... but I'm not sure Liliana is the best influence.
Once I'm discharged, it'll be awkward.
"Uh... hmm..."
But Nam Daeun seemed hesitant.
Is that really something to hesitate about?
★ Heroine Status Window
[Nam Daeun]
- [ Affection: 82 ]
- [ Lust: 23 ]
- [ Appetite: 40 ]
- [ Fatigue: 38 ]
Current Status: My dorm is so filthy I can't possibly bring Dahee... There's literally nothing.
'....'
Just how dirty is it that she's hesitating like this?
But yeah, having nothing there makes sense.
She didn't even have a few hundred won for shampoo. Her dorm probably lacks all personal items.
Which means it's a terrible place for Dahee to stay.
No way she'd want her little sister living like that.
"Then wanna stay in my dorm until I'm discharged? It's all girls anyway. You got close with Liliana too, so it'd be a shame to split up."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I guess."
Liliana nodded at me with bread still in her mouth.
"Unnie, I wanna play with Liliana unnie too."
"Alright. If that's what you want, Dahee, we'll do that."
Luckily, Dahee seems to like Liliana.
Emotional education? Scarlett can handle that.
Looks like the immediate issues are sorted.
After some chatting, we called Baek A-Young before they left.
"This girl is your friend's little sister?"
"Yeah. She's had health problems since she was young."
"Ah... just a moment."
A warm light radiated from Baek A-Young's hands, enveloping Nam Dahee.
Dahee sat with her eyes closed, hands on her knees.
She'd been all excited to meet the Saintess, but now she looked tense.
Nam Daeun sat beside her, lips tight, watching silently.
We sent Liliana and Scarlett out.
I didn't want to show Baek A-Young too many women.
Nam Daeun was her sister, so that was fine, but a blonde like Scarlett... not so much.
"Phew..."
A moment later, Baek A-Young sighed and brushed back her hair.
"How is she...?"
I asked nervously.
"Treatment's done. Looks like she had some pretty severe complications. Probably from long-term malnutrition and stress. But it's taken care of now, and with proper care, she'll be fine."
Wait, it's already over?
"...?"
"...?"
Nam Dahee and Nam Daeun tilted their heads, still not quite following.
I quickly clapped and spoke up.
"Wow, amazing! As expected of the Saintess! Healing any illness in seconds."
"Huh? No, it wasn't that serious—"
"Incredible! Incredible! Okay, girls, let's say thank you. Thank you very much."
Cutting Baek A-Young off, I bowed and gave thanks.
"Thank you, Saintess!"
"Thank you."
"Uh, yes, thank you."
The Buyer Guild bastards had her hospitalized over nothing. But there's no need to tell the sisters that.
They've been through enough.
After sending Baek A-Young off, the sisters said they'd head back to the dorm.
"We should get going."
"Okay. Be careful. Dahee, take care, alright?"
"Oppa, can't unnie stay with you in the dorm too?"
Dahee grabbed my bed, eyes wide and pleading.
"Dahee, don't say things like that. You're making Hoyeon uncomfortable."
I stopped Nam Daeun from pulling her away.
"No, it's fine. Let her stay. They haven't seen each other in so long. It's natural to want more time together."
It's technically a boys' dorm, but... Scarlett will manage.
"...Thanks. I'll come visit again."
"Thanks, oppa! Love you!"
"Yeah yeah. Get home safe."
The Nam sisters left hand-in-hand.
They'd probably meet up with Scarlett outside.
The room felt suddenly quiet with four people gone.
"Haah... what kind of bastards do this."
The illness tormenting Dahee wasn't anything major.
Baek A-Young healed it instantly. A decent healer could've done it easily.
But they'd dragged it out on purpose.
"Sigh. The real demons were those guys."
I reached for the banana Scarlett had left.
Vrrr—
Suddenly, the desk with the banana shook.
Next thing I knew, I was holding Doctor Kang Hyorin's hand instead of the banana.
"Oh my, you shouldn't do that when you have a girlfriend."
Kang Hyorin smirked at me.
"Can't you appear normally? And I don't have a girlfriend."
"That wouldn't be as fun. I didn't expect you not to be surprised, though."
Laughing playfully, Kang Hyorin let go of my hand and pulled documents from her coat.
"Here's the Buyer Guild corruption report. Investigation's complete."
"Wow."
Fake ledgers, client lists, drug smuggling, prostitution—all neatly documented.
"This will end them the moment it drops."
"Right? Want me to do it? I can leak it for free."
"Hmm... no."
Her service is nice, but I want to control the timing.
I also wanted to use it for Nam Daeun's route.
She'll definitely face pressure since she's ignoring their calls.
They'll find out about Dahee's disappearance soon... and then I'll make my move.
"Alright. I'll be going. Request's done, so just treat me as Doctor Kang Hyorin or Professor from now on."
"Yeah, sure. But do you not take personal requests?"
"Hmm. Depends."
Whoosh—
Dr. Kang Hyorin was sucked back into the desk and vanished.
"What the hell is with that woman."
Still, the materials were well-organized.
She works hard, but she's definitely weird.
Knock knock.
"Yes? Who is it?"
"You have a visitor. It's Professor Im Sol. Should I let her in?"
It was the voice of the familiar nurse.
"Yes, please, let her in."
I still had plenty more visitors to come.